St Brigid’s lay down early marker against O’Moore’s

St Brigid’s 1-17 O’Moore’s 1-9 ST Brigid’s made a winning start to their Laois Intermediate Club Camogie Championship campaign on Wednesday evening when they defeated O’Moore’s in Rosenallis GAA.

It was a return to club action for both sides just 10 days after Laois contested the All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie final, with plenty of players from both clubs having been involved in that panel. While the disappointment of that defeat will still be fresh, the focus quickly turned to the club championship, with both teams looking to make a strong start.

St Brigid’s were beaten finalists in last year’s championship and had the benefit of the breeze in the opening half. They made a bright start, with Grainne Hyland opening the scoring after just 25 seconds before Aiva Coss doubled their lead from a free.

O’Moore’s had a let-off when Coss produced a fine pass to find Eimear Hassett, but Emer Conroy made an excellent defensive intervention, hooking Hassett’s hurl as she looked to get a shot away.

Sinead O’Brien got O’Moore’s on the scoreboard after eight minutes before Amy Flanagan levelled the game with her only point. The home side then hit the front when Flanagan found Amy McCane, who finished to the back of the net. Laura Marie Maher added a free as O’Moore’s moved four points clear, but St Brigid’s responded impressively.

Aisling O’Dea produced a superb score from play before Coss followed with an almost carbon-copy effort. Maher landed another free for O’Moore’s, but Coss responded at the other end before Hyland and Hassett brought St Brigid’s back on terms.

Maher (free) and O’Brien then struck for O’Moore’s, but St Brigid’s finished the half strongly. Coss converted a free before turning provider, setting up Hassett for another point, and then added another herself. It meant St Brigid’s had gone from three points behind to leading 0-10 to 1-6 at the break.

Laois star Clodagh Tynan was introduced for St Brigid’s at half-time and made an immediate impact, helping to strengthen their defence while also getting quality ball into the attack.

O’Dea opened the second half scoring before St Brigid’s extended their lead by raising a green flag in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Coss sent a long-range effort towards the O’Moore’s goal and the ball dropped over the hurl and head of goalkeeper Roisin Dowling and into the net.

Maher responded with another free for O’Moore’s, but Coss added a point to restore St Brigid’s five-point advantage. Maher kept the home side in touch with another score, but St Brigid’s continued to create chances.

O’Dea came close to getting a second goal for her side when she swung first time at a breaking ball, only to miss the target, before Dowling produced an excellent save to deny Coss.

Tynan then opened her account from a free before adding another point from play, with St Brigid’s continuing to control proceedings.

Becky Williams got the last score of the evening for O’Moore’s before Hassett responded with another point for St Brigid’s. Niamh Sweeney also got her name on the scoresheet before Hassett completed the scoring with her fourth point from play.

St Brigid’s ultimately ran out convincing winners, making an excellent start to their campaign and laying down an early marker in a group that also contains last year’s junior champions Abbeyleix.

Round 2 will see St Brigid’s take on Abbeyleix, before O’Moore’s travel to Abbeyleix for Round 3. All three teams will progress from the group, with the group winners advancing directly to the semi-finals, while second and third will contest the quarter-finals.

SCORERS:

St Brigid’s: Aiva Coss 1-6 (0-3fs), Eimear Hassett 0-4, Clodagh Tynan (0-1f), Aisling O’Dea and Grainne Hyland 0-2 each, Niamh Sweeney 0-1.

O’Moore’s: Laura Marie Maher 0-5 (0-4fs), Amy McCane 1-0, Sinead O’Brien 0-2, Amy Flanagan and Becky Williams 0-1 each.

ST BRIGID’S: Laura Dunne; Laura Finlay, Amy Quinlan, Danielle Healy; Sarah Creagh, Roisin Kilmartin, Tiegan Reilly Bowe; Jessie Quinlan, Gemma Hoare; Grainne Hyland, Aisling O’Dea, Niamh Sweeney; Amy Daly, Aiva Coss, Eimear Hassett.

Sub: Clodagh Tynan for J Quinlan (ht).

O’MOORE’S: Roisin Dowling; Emer Conroy, Jenny McEvoy, Aisling McEvoy; Mary Hyland, Aoife Hyland, Ellen Conroy; Sarah Hibbitts, Lucy Conroy; Amy McKane, Rebecca Williams, Laura Marie Maher; Sinead O’Brien, Lorna O’Sullivan, Amy Flanagan.

Sub: Julie Ann Bennett for A McEvoy (43m).

Referee: Ronan Devaney (Camross)